Olefin block copolymers, processes for producing the same and uses thereof

Abstract

Olefin block copolymers (A-1) are disclosed represented by the formula (I) PO 1 -g 1 -B 1 . . . (I) wherein PO 1 is a segment comprised of repeating units derived from an olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 1 is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and B 1 is a segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or a hetero atom. The olefin block copolymers are suitable for uses in adhesives, various molded articles such as construction and civil engineering materials, automobile interior and exterior materials, gasoline tanks, electric and electronic parts, medical care and sanitation materials, materials of miscellaneous goods, resin materials having environmental degradation properties, films and sheets, modifiers and dispersions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An olefin block copolymer (A-1) represented by the formula (I)
   PO 1 -g 1 -B 1   (I)
 
 
       wherein PO 1  is a polyolefin segment having a weight average molecular weight of from 500 to 1800, which is obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing at least one α-olefin selected from linear or branched α-olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 1  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and B 1  is a segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or a hetero atom. 
     
     
       2. The olefin block copolymer (A-1) according to  claim 1  wherein the g 1  linkage is an ether, ester or amide linkage and the B 1  segment is prepared by chain polymerization. 
     
     
       3. An olefin block copolymer (A-1) represented by the formula (I)
   PO 1 -g 1 -B 1   (I)
 
 
       wherein PO 1  is a polyolefin segment having a weight average molecular weight of at least 2000, which is obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing at least one α-olefin selected from linear or branched α-olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 1  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and B 1  is a segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or a hetero atom which has a weight-average molecular weight of less than 500. 
     
     
       4. The olefin block copolymer (A-1) according to  claim 3  wherein the g 1  linkage is an ether, ester or amide linkage and the B 1  segment is prepared by chain polymerization. 
     
     
       5. An olefin block copolymer (A-5) represented by the formula (V)
   POB 5 -g 5 -F 5   (V)
 
 
       wherein POB 5  is a di-block segment derived from an olefin block copolymer (A-2) represented by the formula (II),
   PO 2 -f 2 -R 2 —(X 2 )n-h 2  (II)
 
 
       wherein PO 2  is a polyolefin segment comprised of repeating units derived from an olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, f 2  is an ether, ester or amide linkage, R 2  is a functional segment prepared by chain polymerization, X 2  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, h 2  is a polar group selected from an amino group, a halogen atom, and an isocyanate, aldehyde, hydroxyl, carboxyl, acid anhydride, silanol, sulfonic acid and epoxy groups, and n is 0 or 1 and wherein g 5  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and F 5  is a polar segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or hetero atom, which is prepared by condensation reaction, ion reaction or addition reaction. 
     
     
       6. An olefin block copolymer (A-6) represented by the formula (VI)
   POB 6 -g 6 -F 6 -g 16 -POB 16   (VI)
 
 
       wherein POB 6  and POB 16 , which may be the same or different, are each a di-block segment derived from an olefin block copolymer (A-2) represented by the formula (II),
   PO 2 -f 2 -R 2 —(X 2 )n-h 2   (II)
 
 
       wherein PO 2  is a polyolefin segment comprised of repeating units derived from an olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, f 2  is an ether, ester or amide linkage, R 2  is a functional segment prepared by chain polymerization, X 2  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, h 2  is a polar group selected from an amino group, a halogen atom, and an isocyanate, aldehyde, hydroxyl, carboxyl, acid anhydride, silanol, sulfonic acid and epoxy groups, and n is 0 or 1, and wherein g 6  and g 16 , which may be the same or different, are each an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and F 6  is a polar segment composed of a hydrocarbon or a polar segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or hetero atom, which is prepared by condensation reaction, ion reaction or addition reaction. 
     
     
       7. An olefin block copolymer (A-7) represented by the formula (VII);
   (POB 7   i -g 7   i -) k -G 7   (VII)
 
 
       wherein POB 7   i , which may be the same or different, are each a di-block segment derived from an olefin block copolymer (A-2) represented by the formula (II),
   PO 2 -f 2 -R 2 —(X 2 )n-h 2   (II)
 
 
       wherein PO 2  is a polyolefin segment comprised of repeating units derived from an olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, f 2  is an ether, ester or amide linkage, R 2  is a functional segment prepared by chain polymerization, X 2  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, h 2  is a polar group selected from an amino group, a halogen atom, and an isocyanate, aldehyde, hydroxyl, carboxyl, acid anhydride, silanol, sulfonic acid and epoxy groups, and n is 0 or 1 or a di-block segment derived from an olefin block copolymer (A-3) represented by the formula (III)
   PO 3 -g 3 -F 3   (III)
 
 
       wherein PO 3  is a polyolefin segment comprised of repeating units derived from an olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 3  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and F 3  is a polar segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or hetero atom, which is prepared by condensation reaction, ion reaction or addition reaction,
 and wherein g 7   i , which may be the same or different, are each an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and G 7  is a polyvalent group containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or hetero atom, i is an integer of 1 to 5 and k is an integer of 2 to 500. 
 
     
     
       8. A hot melt adhesive comprising an olefin block copolymer (A-1) of formula (I)
   PO 1 -g 1 -B 1   (I)
 
 
       wherein PO 1  is a polyolefin segment having a weight average molecular weight of at least 2000, which is obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing at least one α-olefin selected from linear or branched α-olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 1  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and B 1  is a segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or a hetero atom which has a weight-average molecular weight of less than 500. 
     
     
       9. A hot melt adhesive composition comprising:
 10 to 90 parts by weight of an olefin block copolymer (A-1) represented by the formula (I)
   PO 1 -g 1 -B 1   (I)
 
 
 wherein PO 1  is a polyolefin segment having a weight average molecular weight of from 500 to 1800, which is obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing at least one olefin selected from linear or branched α-olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, g 1  is an ester, ether, amide, imide, urethane, urea, silylether or carbonyl linkage, and B 1  is a segment containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon or a hetero atom and 
 90 to 10 parts by weight of a tackifier resin (B) 
 based on the total amount 100 parts by weight of the olefin block copolymer (A-1) and the tackifier resin (B).